Primes or Zooms?

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Comments

  • OlgaJOlgaJ Registered Users Posts: 146 Major grins
    edited February 1, 2006
    Andy wrote:
    so in a pinch, to travel lightweight, I can go with two lenses if I needed to. I like that.

    Primes will alwas have a place for me. Still, my most used lenses are my 50 f/1.4 and my 35 f/1.4L. And I use my 85 f/1.8 all the time for portrait shoots. The CZ21 and the 15 fish, are specialty lenses, less used, but not less loved.

    What's your poison? Primes or Zooms? Why? ear.gif

    Zooms when I travel by plane; that's because I need a light load to travel with. Even if I use a wheeled cart, I still have to pick up a camera bag too many times (car, shuttle, security, storing on airplane, etc.) when I fly, so it has to be commensurate to my physique (which is that of a wimp.) On some international flights carry-on weight is also restricted. So then, wimpy or not, I'm still limited.

    But when I'm home I prefer primes. I would go shooting with appropriate primes (and 24-105L) in my bag(s), loaded on a baby stroller (making it easier to please the wimp factor.)

    Olga
  • Matthew SavilleMatthew Saville Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 3,352 Major grins
    edited February 1, 2006
    Mongrel wrote:
    I'm not sure I'm following you here headscratch.gif :

    "Shooting with an 85mm f/1.8 is no fun because you always have to keep your DOF in check, and if you don't focus exactly on the subject's eyes the image is trash... I can't imagine shooting with an f/1.4 lens, good grief..."

    or here:

    "Getting these shots with a 150mm is an absolute breeze. With an 85mm however it would take a lot more effort..."

    You don't *have* to shoot the 85 f/1.8 at f/1.8 ne_nau.gif . Just stop it down a bit mwink.gif

    Mongrel

    What I mean is, for me it's easier to just shoot from a few yards away and not worry about stopping down. I can control my background much better and not worry about one of them being out of focus, like I have to do with the 85mm. Because stopping down is still hard to figure out, on-the-fly. How far down? f/2.8? f/4? Or should he move closer, or should she move in this/that direction? It's only my personal experience, but I find that the longer focal length and f/2.8 never let me down and I don't have to think too hard about the technicality of the shot, leaving me free to be more artistic.

    Ironically, I know very well that the 85mm can produce more artistic shots if used right:
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    ...it does indeed shine for me when taking a picture of just one person. (If I can get the focus right through the tiny little D70 viewfinder!)

    Hopefully it's just a matter of gaining experience and as time passes I'll be able to use the 85mm more fluidly even with couples. But for now, when under pressure to "produce" I at least know I can count on my 150mm to always take a perfect shot.

    -Matt-
    My first thought is always of light.” – Galen Rowell
    My SmugMug PortfolioMy Astro-Landscape Photo BlogDgrin Weddings Forum
  • SteveLongPhotoSteveLongPhoto Registered Users Posts: 58 Big grins
    edited February 1, 2006
    I'm not completely anti-zoom. I've taken my 24-50 on plenty of motorcycle road trips.

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    Matt, I know what you're talking about when you reach for the lens you comfortable knowing will work. I've been using the same 3 basic lens for years, 24-50 zoom for outdoor, 50/1.4 and 105/2.8 for portraits. When I want a great portrait I grab the 105, it's sharp and has great bokeh.

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  • kapaluakapalua Registered Users Posts: 45 Big grins
    edited February 4, 2006
    issue not so clear any more
    10 years ago, it was a clear "quality-vs-convenience" argument. Now, as zooms have gotten better and better, I'm not so sure. My Tamron 24-135 zoom is so sharp I really have to look closely for a long time at high magnification to tell the difference in sharpness between this and my Canon primes. And my 70-200 is oustanding as well.

    However, having said all that, I use my primes all the time - it's fun!1drink.gif
  • AnsonAnson Registered Users Posts: 207 Major grins
    edited February 6, 2006
  • gusgus Registered Users Posts: 16,209 Major grins
    edited February 7, 2006
    kapalua wrote:
    10 years ago, it was a clear "quality-vs-convenience" argument. Now, as zooms have gotten better and better, I'm not so sure. My Tamron 24-135 zoom is so sharp I really have to look closely for a long time at high magnification to tell the difference in sharpness between this and my Canon primes. And my 70-200 is oustanding as well.

    However, having said all that, I use my primes all the time - it's fun!1drink.gif

    Zooms are getting better sure but thats not what happens when you just leave one length on & make your eyes/legs work for composition...i recon it would go staight out the window if i had a zoom on.

    A prime will make you shoot differently as you know.
  • Red BullRed Bull Registered Users Posts: 719 Major grins
    edited February 7, 2006
    Primes really do make you think a lot. I've been shooting with my 50 1.8 and I've gotten some much better photos than I have with my zooms because I think more. I've also tried keeping my 70-200 at one focal length and not zooming at all other than using my feet. It's actually pretty fun and you get some great ideas since you work with what you have available.
    -Steven

    http://redbull.smugmug.com

    "Money can't buy happiness...But it can buy expensive posessions that make other people envious, and that feels just as good.":D

    Canon 20D, Canon 50 1.8 II, Canon 70-200 f/4L, Canon 17-40 f/4 L, Canon 100mm 2.8 Macro, Canon 430ex.
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